Agenda Item
4.02 Location of the Graham Road/Devonshire Renovation - 1.) Direct the Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) staff to begin immediately the design and architectural planning necessary to renovate and add to the facility at the Devonshire site for the purpose of relocating the Graham Road Elementary School to this site. The Devonshire site should be designed to accommodate up to 500 students; 2.) that the Devonshire site be renamed the Graham Road Elementary School after the Devonshire renovation is completed; and that once the school has been moved to its new location, the old school building be designated as the Graham Road Community Building, until such time as its future use is determined; 3.) that FCPS staff is directed to develop plans for relocating staff and programs currently housed at Devonshire. Such plans should consider the most cost effective means of relocation by utilizing existing administrative capacities while ensuring continuity of services for students and community members; 4.) that the future Graham Road Community Building remain in the FCPS inventory of properties. FCPS staff is directed, however, to begin discussions with the County immediately regarding collaboration opportunities for the delivery of County services from Graham Road Community Building. If appropriate, consideration may be given to transferring the property to the County should that organization provide the majority of its services and mutual agreement can be reached regarding such a transfer; 5.) that FCPS staff is directed to negotiate a shared-use agreement with Fairfax County, which captures the opportunities to collaborate and ensures that the building remains a viable and valuable community asset serving a variety of educational, public services and recreational needs. The shared-use agreement shall include (a.) County support for a Community School Coordinator; (b.) a description of the minimal renovation or improvement needs of the Graham Road Community Building once the school is moved to the Devonshire site; and (c.) a funding plan proportionate to the projected amount of County and FCPS use. FCPS-specific responsibilities are to be incorporated into the Capital Improvement Program, although staff is encouraged to seek creative financing strategies such as grants, proffers, or other funding sources. Staff is directed to make every effort to secure the FCPS-County shared-use agreement at least one year prior to the opening of the Graham Road Elementary School at its new location at Devonshire (FTS; presented as new business 5/8/08; work session held 5/12/08)
Meeting:05/22/2008 Regular Meeting No. 20
Category:4. Action Items - 8:35 p.m.
Agenda Type:Action
Agenda Item Content

4.02 Location of Graham Road.MP3

Contact: Phillip A. Niedzielski-Eichner, Providence District

Meeting Type: May 22, 2008 - Regular Meeting No. 20

SUBJECT: Location of the Graham Road/Devonshire Renovation

TYPE: Action

BACKGROUND:

For the past several years we have been studying the needs of the Graham Road school community and whether those needs would best be met by partnering with Fairfax County Government to include a Community School component into the renovated facility by either renovating Graham Road Elementary School or by relocating the school to the Devonshire site and renovating/adding to the building at that location.

In summer 2005, a community task force was created to consider the options. In a January 2007 report to the School Board, the task force opined that the school should include a Community School component and remain at the Graham Road facility if the school system was able to expand the current site size (only 4.6 acres). Based upon this finding, significant efforts were made to acquire additional property adjacent to the site; however; we were not successful.

In winter 2008, the task force reconvened and reconsidered the issues based upon current information to include our inability to expand the Graham Road site.

Copies of both task force reports are attached.

OPTIONS:

There are two options. Renovate the existing school at Graham Road or renovate/add to the former school at the Devonshire site. Staff has no recommendation at this time. Both options are considered viable.

RECOMMENDATION:

That the School Board 1.) direct the Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) staff to begin immediately the design and architectural planning necessary to renovate and add to the facility at the Devonshire site for the purpose of relocating the Graham Road Elementary School to this site. The Devonshire site should be designed to accommodate up to 500 students;

2.) that the Devonshire site be renamed the Graham Road Elementary School after the Devonshire renovation is completed; and that once the school has been moved to its new location, the old school building be designated as the Graham Road Community Building, until such time as its future use is determined;

3.) that FCPS staff is directed to develop plans for relocating staff and programs currently housed at Devonshire. Such plans should consider the most cost effective means of relocation by utilizing existing administrative capacities while ensuring continuity of services for students and community members;

4.) that the future Graham Road Community Building remain in the FCPS inventory of properties. FCPS staff is directed, however, to begin discussions with the County immediately regarding collaboration opportunities for the delivery of County services from Graham Road Community Building. If appropriate, consideration may be given to transferring the property to the County should that organization provide the majority of its services and mutual agreement can be reached regarding such a transfer;

5.) that FCPS staff is directed to negotiate a shared-use agreement with Fairfax County, which captures the opportunities to collaborate and ensures that the building remains a viable and valuable community asset serving a variety of educational, public services and recreational needs. Considerations for the shared-use agreement terms shall include (a.) County role in staffing the Graham Road Community Building; (b.) a description of the minimal renovation or improvement needs of the Graham Road Community Building once the school is moved to the Devonshire site; and (c.) a shared funding plan proportionate to the projected amount of County and FCPS use. FCPS-specific responsibilities are to be incorporated into the Capital Improvement Program, although staff is encouraged to seek creative financing strategies such as grants, proffers, or other funding sources. Staff is directed to make every effort to secure the FCPS-County shared-use agreement at least one year prior to the opening of the Graham Road Elementary School at its new location at Devonshire.

Attachments: 1. A Community School for Graham Road, Recommendations to the School Board, Graham Road Elementary School Planning Team, January 2007GRESRecJan2007.pdf

2. Graham Road Elementary Planning Team Update, April 3, 2008, with AppendixGRESUpdateApr2008.pdfGRESUpdateAppendix.pdf

Action Agenda Details
Recommended Action:
1.) direct the Fairfax County Public Schools’ (FCPS) staff to begin immediately the design and architectural planning necessary to renovate and add to the facility at the Devonshire site for the purpose of relocating the Graham Road ElementarySchool to this site. The Devonshire site should be designed to accommodate up to 500 students; 2.) that the Devonshire site be renamed the Graham Road Elementary School after the Devonshire renovation is completed; and that once the school has been moved to its new location, the old school building be designated as the Graham Road Community Building, until such time as its future use is determined;
3.) that FCPS staff is directed to develop plans for relocating staff and programs currently housed at Devonshire. Such plans should consider the most cost effective means of relocation by utilizing existing administrative capacities while ensuring continuity of services for students and community members; 4.) that the future Graham Road Community Building remain in the FCPS inventory of properties. FCPS staff is directed, however, to begin discussions with the County immediately regarding collaboration opportunities for the delivery of County services from Graham Road Community Building. If appropriate, consideration may be given to transferring the property to the County should that organization provide the majority of its services and mutual agreement can be reached regarding such a transfer; 5.) that FCPS staff is directed to negotiate a shared-use agreement with Fairfax County, which captures the opportunities to collaborate and ensures that the building remains a viable and valuable community asset serving a variety of educational, public services and recreational needs. The shared-use agreement shall include (a.) County support for a Community School Coordinator; (b.) a description of the minimal renovation or improvement needs of the Graham Road Community Building once the school is moved to the Devonshire site; and (c.) a funding plan proportionate to the projected amount of County and FCPS use. FCPS-specific responsibilities are to be incorporated into the Capital Improvement Program, although staff is encouraged to seek creative financing strategies such as grants, proffers, or other funding sources. Staff is directed to make every effort to secure the FCPS-County shared-use agreement at least one year prior to the opening of the Graham Road Elementary School at its new location at Devonshire.